title: [Old problems and new strategies in the fight against pertussis].
abstract: Pertussis is still a major Public Health problem. In fact, despite high vaccination coverage, several outbreaks have occurred in the last years all over the world, with thousands of cases and several deaths. Waning immunity seems to be the origin of this phenomenon, causing the shift of the peak incidence of the disease from school-age children, typical of the pre-vaccination era, to adolescents and adults. From these subjects the infection spreads to infants who have not yet been vaccinated or who have not completed the vaccination cycle. To reduce the incidence and the complications of pertussis in infants and immune compromised persons, booster doses are recommended and a "cocoon" vaccination strategy has been proposed.
authors.affiliation: Scuola di Specializzazione in Igiene e Medicina Preventiva, Università di Roma Tor Vergata.
authors.forename: Cristiana
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Carlino
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zaratti
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Franco
mesh_terms: D022681:Diphtheria-Tetanus-acellular Pertussis Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014943:Global Health; D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs; D007117:Immunization, Secondary / Q000639:trends; D015994:Incidence; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D010567:Pertussis Vaccine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012307:Risk Factors; D014611:Vaccination / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends; D014917:Whooping Cough / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D022681:Diphtheria-Tetanus-acellular Pertussis Vaccines; D010567:Pertussis Vaccine